Section 5 Flashcards
priority of life
- citizens
- officers
- suspect
save innocent life
tazers
ranges 20-25 ft
only if in a group of 2+
needs to penetrate the skin
classifications of death
- natural
- accidental
- suicide
- homicide
- undetermined
natural death
just happens
heart attack
old age
accidental
no intent
car accident
suicide
intentional taking of ones life
42-45,000 yearly
homicide
all murder is homicide, not all homicide is murder
24-26,000 yearly
popular homicide cities
- chicago
- philadelphia
- washington DC
justifiable homicide
homicide that is commanded or authorized by law, or that is done under circumstances of necessity of imminent threat
undetermined
drowning
no evidence of suicide or homicide
who determines COD
medical examiner
coroner
closed case of death
natural
accident
undetermined
investigated COD
suicide
homicide
autopsy
main purpose to determine COD
body taken to morgue
any evidence mark/tagged/turned to officer
collect everything together as is
autopsy steps
weigh
measure
photograph
turn over evidence
autopsy photography
at the end of each stage
all deaths must be investigated if
- violent death
- any suspicion
- inmate deaths
- cause by disease that may constitute public health (covid)
- resulting from hazardous employment
suicide investigation
all have to be treated as a homicide until proven otherwise
1. check to find a weapon near the body
2. find out if they were left or right handed
3. always seize the phone through a search warrant
4. talk to different people (family, counselor, friends)
time of death
between investigator and ME/coroner to establish
general guideline for body temperature
decreases 2-3 degrees in first hr
1-1.5 degrees for each hr until 18 hrs
then assume temp based on atmosphere assuming 98-99 degree start
+/- 30 min estimate
contents of stomach
lunch/dinner time
create a window timeline
body temp in larger people
decreases slower than smaller people
rigor mortis definition
stiffening of joints in the body after death caused by chemical changes in muscle fiber
rigor mortis
first noticed in small muscles (face) to larger muscles (max: 12-24 hrs)
can remain rigid for 3 days
starts to decompose after ~36 hrs
rigor mortis factors
heat increases rate
cold decreases rate
post-mortum lividity
starts 1.5-2 hrs after death
blood pools at the bottom/lowest levels of the body
blood is no longer in circulation
causes dark blue/purple discoloration
effects of water
dead body sinks/remains emersed for 8-10 days in warm water and 2-3 weeks in cold water
4 factors to determine in water
- in drowning, most curl into a semi-fetal position
- rigor mortis and lividity indicates if death prior to being in water (unnatural)
- victims eyes glisten if drowned and dry 5-10 minutes after being pulled out, dry immediately if died on land
- single-cell organisms will be in the lungs if accident/suicide/drowning, mouth and lips if homicide/moved
gun shot wound-homicide
fired more than 2.5” away
angle/location that rules out self-infliction (back)
shot through clothing
no weapon is present
gun shot-suicide
gun held against skin
wound in mouth/against tongue
weapon is present
dna on gun/bullet
use of a knife
most stabbing deaths are homicides
knife cut worse than a bullet
heal one wound, bleed out the other
defense wounds
cuts on hands/arms/legs/feet
victim attempts to fight off suspect
cutting wounds
frequently result of suicide
most common cases with hesitation
stabbing vs cutting homicide
find defense wounds on victim
find knife that went through clothing
no weapon found
usually injury to vital organs
body was moved
